Local CSIRO co-founded venture FPR Energy, is developing concentrated solar thermal (CST) systems that aim to provide round-the-clock renewable heat and power. Unlike traditional solar panels, which generate electricity only when the sun is shining, CST captures and stores heat for use at any time of day.
The company’s approach uses mirrors, known as heliostats, to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver that heats ceramic particles. These particles act as a thermal battery, holding energy at very high temperatures until it is needed. The stored heat can then be released to generate electricity or supply direct industrial heating.
FPR Energy has already demonstrated its system at 850°C and expects that temperatures of up to 1200°C are achievable. The technology is designed to provide a scalable, zero-emissions option that can serve different energy users, from heavy industry to residential markets.
Local collaboration through TRaCE
Recently, FPR Energy joined the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE) R&D Voucher Program to refine the materials used in its thermal storage system. The voucher provides matched funding of up to $50,000 and gives small and medium businesses access to the University of Newcastle and the University of New South Wales for specialised research support.
Through the program, FPR Energy is working directly with Dr Dylan Cuskelly and Associate Professor Thomas Fiedler at the University of Newcastle to test and optimise ceramic materials for energy storage. Being based in the same city makes the partnership both practical and efficient, allowing the company to use advanced laboratories and analysis tools without needing to make major capital investments.
TRaCE also provides professional support and tailored intellectual property arrangements, giving businesses a clearer path from early-stage testing to commercial outcomes. For FPR Energy, the program is helping build the technical evidence needed to show how its CST technology can scale into wider use.
Backing from the NSW Government
Earlier in 2025, FPR Energy also secured $4.85 million from the NSW Government’s Clean Technology Innovation grants program. This initiative is part of the state’s $275 million Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, which funds companies developing clean technologies with potential to reduce emissions and support local industries.
That grant is helping FPR Energy move from research and design towards commercial deployment of its CST systems. The focus is on providing long-duration renewable heat and power that can meet the needs of industrial, commercial and residential users. The project sits alongside other funded technologies that aim to contribute to NSW’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
A Newcastle base for energy innovation
With its headquarters in Newcastle and a research partnership through the University of Newcastle, FPR Energy is an example of how local companies and institutions can work together on clean energy technologies. The combination of local collaboration, early-stage R&D support through TRaCE, and state government investment is helping the company take its particle-based solar thermal systems closer to commercial reality.
